Read an excerpt from Prison! My 8,344th Day

Preface

Government statistics show that our nation confines more than 2.3 million people on any given day. To pay the costs of America’s prison system (both state and federal), lawmakers deploy $75 billion of taxpayer funds every year according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research.[1] Those funds originate from the same limited resources that must pay for our nation’s education system, health care system, and social services. Consequently, as prison budgets expand, resources dwindle for college students, for health care providers, for all types of social services. Despite the massive expenditures to maintain America’s prison system, relatively few taxpayers understand what society receives in exchange. Lobbyists who represent the prison system (including the unions and businesses that benefit from the government spending) strive to control the message. They argue for increasing prison budgets and they work aggressively to fight any type of prison reform; they predict the chaos and lawlessness that would result from reforms that would usher in early release—even as single day earlier than the full term. Some do not espouse the maxim that truth can never originate from lies, or that a nation confident in its judicial system should not shy away from mercy.

I am a prisoner who does not expect any type of relief from the sentence my judge imposed in 1987, when I was 23 and convicted of selling cocaine. Since then I’ve worked consistently to reconcile with society, to earn freedom and to prepare for triumph over the obstacles I expect to encounter upon release.

I strive to contribute by writing as a way of opening a window into America’s prison system. The more transparency placed on this growing subculture behind bars, the better equipped taxpayers become at making informed decisions; with more insight taxpayers may more effectively evaluate the policies governing long-term imprisonment and whether those policies serve the best interests of America’s enlightened society.

As those who support and generously sponsor my work bring this book to press, in August of 2010, I have more than 23 full years of imprisonment behind me. In the pages that follow I describe a typical day at this stage of my journey.

My life differs from what others might expect of a long-term prisoner. It is enriched by many blessings, and it is without bitterness, anger, or animosity toward anyone. With resources and a support network that will allow me to enjoy the remainder of my life as a law-abiding, contributing citizen, I am well prepared to emerge from prison unscathed.

A back-of-the-envelope cost analysis reveals that my long-term imprisonment has not come inexpensively. The Bureau of Prisons has an annual 2010 budget of $6.1 billion. In dividing that number by the approximately 210,000 people confined in federal prison, I arrive at an annual “per-prisoner” cost of $29,000. Some simple math illustrates that taxpayers have (thus far) spent $647,000 to confine me. But I’m scheduled to serve another 1,155 days, until August 12, 2013, bringing additional hard costs to taxpayers of $91,707—a total cost of $738,707 for my confinement.

Lobbyists successfully argue that America needs more rather than less spending on its prison system. I would counter that argument by pointing out that tens of thousands of nonviolent offenders serve sentences that are far too long and do more harm to society than good. Those sentences render individuals less likely to function upon release than when they began, as high recidivism rates make clear. Further, newspapers now report problems of intergenerational recidivism, where the children of prisoners join them behind bars. Although prison may be necessary in measurable doses, it isn’t a panacea and too much of it brings diminishing returns.

I was as ready for release as I would ever be after completing my eighth year. By then I had earned an undergraduate degree from Mercer University and a graduate degree from Hofstra University. At that time my confinement had already cost taxpayers $232,000—an expenditure of $506,707 less than what taxpayers will ultimately spend to keep me in prison. The cost savings would have gone a long way toward funding programs for more worthy causes than warehousing humanity.

To provide fellow citizens a window into a typical day of one long-term prisoner, I offer my 8,344^th day.

Michael G. Santos

August, 2010

[1] Center for Economic and Policy Research / 1611 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 400 / Washington DC 20009 / www.CEPR.net